Draw-bar carry-iron.



J. M. ROHLPI-NG. DRAW BAR CARRY IRON. APPLICATION FILED 11211.15, 1912.

n i y BY Mwqzyfw Patented 001;. 7, 1913.

UNITED sfrarns PATENT omnes.

JOHN M. ROHLFING, 0F S'l.` LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN CAR. AND FOUNDRY COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

DRAW-BAR CARRY-IRON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Oct. '7, 1913.

Application filed April 15, 1912. Serial Nol 690,971.

draw bar carrier of my improved construetion with the draw bar shown in" vertical section.- Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 o'f Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. Ql

My invention relates to new and improved carrying means for the draw bars of Vcar couplers, the principal objects of my inven-` tion being to provide a .trussed carrier particularly designed to' effectively 'resist and withstand all pounding movement of the draw bar which ordinarily results in bending of the carrying element and further to provide a carrier with rolling engaging faces, thereby reducing to a minimum the friction between the carrier and the draw bar.

A further object of my invention'ils to provide a trussed carrie-r with draw bar support-ing rollers that are removable, in order that rollers of different diameters can be utilized for maintaining the draw bar at different heights as is required in practice.

In practice it is essential that the draw bars of cars be properly supported, and .in

order to permit the carsto round curves andA not throw undue strains on the coupler knuckles, 1t 1s necessary that proper clearance be provided on each side of the dra-w Abar. In passing over crossings, switches,

frogs and the like there is a certain amount of vertical. movement imparted to the draw bars, which movement results in severe pounding of the draw bars on the carrying members, and I propose to provide -a carrier that is trussed at its center in order to resistthis pounding movementof the draw bar.

Ordinary carry irons are provided with y fla-t top surfaces, and where no centering device for the draw bar is provided, a considerable amount of friction is developed between the underside of the draw-bar and the flat surface of au ordinary carry iron during the Areturn of the draw-bar to a central position,

which movement takes placewhile the cars are moving off from a'curve onto a straight portion of a track. Under such conditions the draw-bars are, to a certain degree, pulled outwardly with respect to the cars, thereby bringing into action the draft gear to which the draw-bars 'are attached, and during this longitudinal movement of the draw-bars they ride lengthwise over` the carry irons and at the same time move transversely relative thereto to a central position. By providing one or more rolling supports for the drawbars the friction betweenv the draw-bars'and carriers will be materially reduced during. the return of the draw-bars to a central position for the reason that said draw-bars bear upon rolling surfacesduring their com.- bined longitudinal and transverse` movements with respect to the carriers.

To the above purposes my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, l designates a car end sill,`2 tlie'ndraft sills and 8 the striking plate, which latter positioned between and rigidly fixed to the draft sills and end sill.

Formed in the lower portion of the striking plate is an opening LL adapted top'eceive the usual draw bar. The lower ends of the portions of the striking plate 3 to the sides of the opening 4 are notched, as designated by 6 in order to receive the ends of the truss member of my improved carrier, and the ,ears to the sides of these out away portions order to receive the bolt 7. When the carrier and formed intei is properly the not-ches or cutaway portions 6 at the lower outer corners ot the striking plate. Formed integral with the, central portiorron the trussing member 8 is a log l() having a transverse aperture in alinement with the apertures of the lugs 9 in order to receive vthe bolt 7. l'iooselj,y mounted on the bolt 7 between the ings t) andi() are rollers Yi, the diameters of which are such that portions of their peripheries occupy a .plane slightly above the lug l0. p v 'lhc bolt or rod 7 is preferably provided on one end with head and on the'epposite end with a nut in order that it lmay be readily removed when it is desired to change the rollers ll or remore or repair the draw bar. The rollers l1 not only provide a rollirltgr support for the draw bar, but materially reduce the friction between said draw bar and rollers to a minimum during any lengthwise movement or" the draw-bar with respect to said rollers, therebyenabling the springs of the draft gear to readily return the draw t bar to its center position after having been drawn to one side as the cars a're rounding a curve or passing' from a curve onto straight track. All pounding of the draw bar upon the rollers ll, as. a result of the vertical movement of said draw bar `.vhile the ears are passing over crossings, switches and frogs and which, under ordinary4 circumstances, tends to bend the bolt or carrying: element is effectively resisted hy the t'russed carrying,` element. 'interchangeable rollers of different diameters provide simple means for changing the elevation at which the draw bar is carried.

A carrier of my improved construction is provided with a trussing,r member that is strongest at its center, thereby permitting' the use of a minimum amount of material for maximum strength, and by utilizing' rollers for reducing the friction between the carrier and the draw bar during the longitudinal n'ioven'ient of said draw-bar with respect to the carrier, said draw-bar can he easily moved to its normal cental position.

lt will be readily understood that minor changes in the size, it'orm vand construction l ot the various parts ot my improved carrier can be made and substituted for those herein .shown and described `with out departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim l. A drawbar carrier comprising a truss friction element on said bolt and forming' a bearing :tor the drawbar.

The combination with supports, of a trussed bolt detachably connected to said supports, and an antitriction dran' bar engagmg member on said trussed bolt.

plane-occupied by the top et the 1 assembled these lugs 9 occupy t t l l l A transversely 3. ln a draw bar carrier, the combination with a carrying element, of separate trussing' means connected thereto and depending therefrom, and anti-friction elements on said carrying element which anti -friction elements are transversely arranged with respect to the draw-bar.

e. ln a draw bar'carrier, the combination f with a vcarrying element, of a separate trussingjelement therefor provided with spaced bearings, and anti-friction elements between s; id bearings which anti-friction elements are 'transversely disposed with` respect to the draw-bar.

5. In a draw bar carrier, the .combination with anca'rrying element of a separate trussing element and separate anti-friction elements coperating with said carrying element.

6. In a dra'iy bar carrier, .the combination with a 'carryingl member, ofv anti-friction members thereon, the same .being transversely disposed relative to the draWbar, and trussing means carried by said vcarrying member for reinforcing thc central portion ot said carrying,` member. i

7. The combi'nationivith spaced supports en meer body, of abolt removably positioned 1n said supports, a trussing'member positioned `ou said bolt between the suppfnts-j and anti-friction memberson said bolt.

8. The combination witha. striking plate haviingdepending supporting members, of a bolt removably positioned in said supporting members which bolt is transversely disposed with respect to the carried draw-bar, a trussing clement carried by the bolt, and anti-friction rollers mounted on said bolt between the ends ol said trussi'ng element.V

9. ln a draw bar carrier, the combination with a carrying element having rolling surfaces, which element is transversely-disposed with respect to the carried draw-bar, of a removable trussing element for said carrying element.

l0. In a draw bar carrier, the combination with a trussed supporting element, of a pair ot rollers carried by said element, the same being arranged transversely with respect to the carried drauf-bar.

ll.. 'The combination with supports arranged at the sides of a draw-har, of a trussed bolt connected to said supports' and arranged beneath the draw-bar, andan anti-friction element on said trussed bolt, which anti-friction element is transversely disposed relative to the supportedl supported transversely beneath the dreivbar which truss inctudesva bolt, andan `antidrawbar.

12. ln a draw-bar carrier, a tru'sSed bolt transversely disposed beneath the drawbar, and an anti-friction element loosely mounted on said bolt.

13. ln a draw-bar carrier, a bolt transversely disposed beneath the draw-bar, a trussing' and reinforcing element mounted on said bolt., and an anti-friction member on said element, and a trussed bearing for loosely mounted on said bolt; the carrying element between the anti-fric-V l. Ina draw-.bar carrier, a bolt trans- 1 tion devices. verse-ly positioned beneath the draw-bar, a In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my 5 @russing and reinforcing member having a signature in the presence of two witnesses, 15 plurality ofl bearings in which bolt is this tenth day of April, 1912.

seated, and a roller' loosely mounted on said i JOHN M. ROHLFING. bolt. Witnesses:

15. In a, draw-bar carrier, a carrying elei t EDGAR D. RENTCHLER, 10 ment, a pair of spaced anti-frictiondevces l A. MENDEZ.

cuites of this patent may be obtained for ve`cents each, by addressing the Commissioner o! Patente,

Washington, D. c." 

